Toy train construction



Nov. 28, 1961 B. M. BROWN 3,010,254

TOY TRAIN CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 26, 1958 fierzfr ez z )fflroarrzINVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,010,254 TOY TRAIN CONSTRUCTION Bertram M. Brown,Pawtucket, R.I., assignor to Rosbro Plastics Corporation, Pawtucket,R.I., a corporation of Rhode Island Filed Dec. 26, 1958, Ser. No.783,020 12 Claims. (Cl. 46-218) The present invention relates to a toytrain. More particulariy, the present invention relates to a couplingdevice for use in a toy electric train that is constructed of a moldedplastic material.

The toy electric trains known heretofore have been developed to such anextent that they simulate actual size railway cars and equipment inminute detail. In order to make these detail designs, the partscomprising prior known toy trains are necessarily constructed of metalmaterials which are laboriously assembled by the manufacturer. Becauseof the labor expended in fabricating and assembling the metal parts thatcomprise the train cars, the prior known electric trains have beenrelatively expensive. Some efforts have been made in recent years toconstruct toy trains of plastic material, but these trains have usuallybeen push toys or simple oneor two-car .echanical wind-uppropulsion-type systems. It has not been possible heretofore to providea molded plastic car for use in electrified systems because of thedifficulty in constructing suitable coupling devices. In the prior knownmolded plastic train cars, the coupling member was formed as an integralpart of the car body and was therefore inflexible in use. In multi-tracktoy electric train systems, the cars must travel on variously curvedtrackways, and it is necessary therefore that the coupling devices bepivotally mounted for enabling the toy cars to follow each other on thecurved track sections.

lt is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a couplingdevice for use in a toy train that enables the train cars to roll freelyon a curved track.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toy electrictrain system that is fabricated entirely of a molded plastic material.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a toy trainthat includes a pivotaly mounted coupling device, the coupling devicebeing especially adapted for use with toy railway cars that roll oncurved track sections.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a coupling devicefor use in a toy train that includes a pivotally mounted coupling link,the coupling link being pivotally connected to a projection that extendsfrom a fixed wheel axle.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a toyelectric train system wherein the toy train is battery powered.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a toy electrictrain system which is less susceptible to breakage, safer for childrento play with, and which still is attractive and amusing, while at thesame time being relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, havinga minimum of moving parts.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant inventionwill be apparent from the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly broken away,showing a portion of two toy train cars wherein the coupling deviceembodied in the present invention is illustrated coupling the train carstogether;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of one of the cars 3,010,254 PatentedNov. 28, 1961 illustrated in FIG. 1, with the coupling link shown insection;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the axle and wheel assembly embodied inthe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the wheels removed from theaxle unit; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the coupling link that is adapted to bepivotally connected to the axle illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, a portion of twotoy train freight cars are illustrated therein and are generallyindicated at 10 and 12. The car 10 simulates the open box type freightcar whereas the car 12 simulates a caboose. The cars 10 and 12 arefabricated of a molded plastic material, such as polyethylene, forexample, and with the exception of the coupling unit and wheel and axleassembly, to be described hereinafter, are formed in a one-piececonstruction. It is understood that any type car may be simulated by themolding process. It is further contemplated that the car simulating theengine be provided with a battery powered electric motor (not shown)which will be utilized as the prime mover for the toy train.

The electric toy train cars embodied in the present invention areadapted to be employed with some form of trackways, and it is seen thatas the cars move over curved sections of the trackway, the couplingconnecting the cars must pivot. It is for the purpose of enabling thecars to follow in coupled relation on the trackway that the couplingembodied in the present invention is provided. Referring again to thedrawings, the cars 10 and 12, as shown, are molded with different bodyformations to simulate the open box car and the caboose; however, thecars 10 and 12 have similar wheel and axle constructions and includebracket portions 1'4 which are molded integral with the frame of the carand depend therefrom. As shown in FIG. 1, the brackets 14 are moldedwith surface configurations that simulate actual wheel brackets and haverectangularly shaped openings 16 formed therein that are adapted toaccommodate the ends of the axle unit to be described hereinafter.Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the wheel and axle assembly isillustrated and includes a molded plastic axle unit generally indicatedat 18. It is understood that all the wheel and axle assemblies used inconnection with the present invention are constructed similarly and maybe interchangeably used on various types of cars and on either the frontor rear thereof.

The axle unit 18 which is shown in FIG. 5 includes a central portion 20,to which an upstanding projection 22 is integrally joined intermediatethe ends thereof. Formed on the upper end of the projection 22 is areduced neck 24 to which is joined a rounded head member 26. Formedintegral with the central portion 20 at opposite ends thereof arereduced portions 28 which terminate in end portions 30, the end portions3% having a rectangular shape in cross section and having thereonintegral retaining lugs 31.

As shown in FIG. 4, wheel members 32 are rotatably mounted on thereduced portions 23 and abut against a shoulder 34 defined by thereduced portions and the central portion 20, being retained in positionthereby. The end portions 36- project outwardly from the wheel members32 and are adapted to be inserted into the rectangularly shaped openings16 formed on the brackets 14 and thereby mount the axle unit 18 in fixedposition on the underside of the car frame. As will be obvious, theinherent resilience of the plastic material will enable the retaininglugs 31 to be forced through openings 16 in order to resiliently andreleasably maintain brackets 14, axle unit 18 and wheels 32 in assembledrelation. The wheel members 32 which are also molded of a plastic ma- 3terial are formed with an annular flange 36 which acts to retain thewheel members 32 in place on a track 38 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) as is wellknown in the art.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the axle unit 18 is fixedin position in theopposed brackets 14, the projection 22 extends upwardly into theinterior of the car. The car illustrated in FIG. 3 is of the open boxtype corresponding to the car 10 shown in FIG. 1 and is formed with afloor or bottom wall 4% (FIG. 2). It will be understood that the floor 4is formed with a suitable opening for receiving the projection 22, theopening permitting the extension of the projection into the interior ofthe car 10.

In enclosed cars, such as the caboose 12, a floor is not required andthus the projection 22 extends into the car interior without thenecessity of forming additional openings therefor.

Since the toy cars utilized in connection with the subject invention areadapted'to roll on curved track sections, it is essential that thecoupling device connecting the cars together he pivotally mounted. Thecars are, however, fabricated of a molded plastic material which limitsthe type of coupling devices that can be employed. Referring now to FIG.6, a coupling link fabricated of a molded plastic material is generallyindicated at 42 and includes a bar 44 formed with an opening 46 adjacentthe outer end thereof. The bar 44 is rounded on the outer end and tapersgradually to stepped-down end portion 48.

includes an upstanding coupling pin 5G formed on the outer end thereof,an opening 52 being formed adjacent the step joining the bar 44 and endportion 48.

In the assembled position, the coupling link 42 is pivotally mounted onthe projection 22, the head member26 extending through the opening 46.Since the bar 44 is deformable, the head member 26 is easily pushedthrough the opening 46 which is slightlysmaller in diameter than thehead member 26, the wall of the opening 46 snapping in position aroundthe neck 24 and being retained thereon by the shoulder defined by thereduced diameter of the neck 24 and the projection 22. Since the innerend of the coupling link 42 engages the upstanding projection 22, it isnecessarily positioned within the interior of the toy car. in order toafford access for the outer stepped-down portion 48, a slot is providedin the front or rear wall of the car such as indicated at 54 in FIG. 3.It is seeen that the coupling link 42 extends through the slot and ispivotally mounted on the projection 22, the limit of pivotal movementbeing defined by the ends of the slot 54.

Since the coupling link 48 must be provided for the front and rear ofthe toy cars, the slot for providing access for the coupling linkexteriorly of the car is normally formed in both the front and rearwails thereof. However, the caboose 12 only utilizes one coupling linkand only one slot is necessary in this instance. Furthermore, due to theparticular construction of the caboose 12, the slot is not formed in thewall but rather is located beneath the platform. It is understood, ofcourse, that the slot for receiving the coupling link 42 will be formedin the front and rear section in each particular toy car in accordancewith the construction thereof, but the slot will not necessarily beformed in the front or rear wall thereof if the construction of the toycar does not require such an arrangement.

In assembling the coupling device, the wheels and axle are firstassembled in position by locating the wheel members 32 on the reducedportions 28. With the projection 22 positioned upwardly, that is,extending upwardly in the normal position of use of the cars, the outerend portions 30 and retaining lugs 31 of the axle unit 18 are thensnapped through the rectangularly shaped openings. 16 formed in thebrackets 14. Since the brackets 14 are molded integral with the toy carand are also of a deformable plastic material, they may be twisted orspread to accommodate the axle unit as the outer end portions 30 areinserted into the openings 16. With the axle unit 18 in 5 opening 46 andthe coupling link 42 is thus pivotally mounted in position. The assemblyoperation is then repeated for the opposite end of the toy car.

In use, the cars are positioned on the track 38 and coupled together byinserting the coupling pin 50 into the opening 52 of the coupling link42 of the adjacent car.

The opening 52 in turn receives therein a pin Stiof the adjacentcoupling link. In this connection, it will be obvious that the adjacent,interconnecting coupling links must extend in opposite directions or,more specifically,

one of the pins 50 must extend upwardly while the other extendsdownwardly in order that the desired interconnection be effected. (SeeFIG. 2.)

It is seen that with the coupling pins 50 inserted in their respectiveopenings 52, there is no pivotal movement of 20 the coupling links atthis point. The pivotal movement of the coupling only occurs at theinterconnection of the coupling link 42 on the projection 22. With thecars coupled together, as illustrated in FIG. 2, they are moved over thetrack 38 by any convenient means and preferably by a battery poweredengine. When a curved section of the track is reached, the cars willbegin to shift with respect to each other, and in order to accommodatethis shifting, the coupling links 42 pivot on their respectiveprojection 22 and within the limits defined by the slot 54.

it is thus seen that the slots 54 are of sufficient width to allow thecoupling links 42 to freely pivot as the cars roll on the curvedsections of the track 38. Referring to FIG. 2, the positions of thecoupling links 42 are illustrated before and after shifting of the cars,the shifted position of the cars being indicated in dotted lines.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention and thereforethe invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings anddescribed in the specification, but only as indicated in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A toy train car comprising a unitary molded plastic frame, said frameincluding pairs of spaced depending wheel brackets formed thereon inopposed relation, each of said brackets having an opening formedtherein, at least one end of said frame having a slot formed therein, anaxle unit fixed normally from movement to each pair of said dependingbrackets and extending therebetween, the

ends of each of said axle units being non-rotatably secured in theopenings formed in said brackets, wheel members rotatably mounted onsaid axleunits adjacent the outer ends thereof, each of said'axle unitshaving an upstanding projection formed thereon intermediate the endsthereof and extending upwardly into the interior of said car, and acoupling link, the inner end of which is pivotally secured to the upperend of saidprojection and the outer end of which projects through saidslot and extends substantially beyond said frame, and means formed onthe outer end of said coupling link for coupling said line couplingbetween said coupling link and said adjacent link.

3. In a toy train, a car comprising a unitary molded plastic frame, saidframe including support means formed on the lower portion thereof,spaced axle units normally 7 fixed from movement in said support meansand extending across the bottom of said frame, wheel members totatablymounted on said axle units adjacent the outer ends thereof, said axleunits each having an upstanding projection formed thereon intermediatethe ends thereof and projecting upwardly into the interior of said car,and a coupling link releasably and pivotally secured to said projectionadjacent the upper end thereof, said coupling link extending outwardlybeyond the confines of the car interior and adapted to be engaged -by asimilar coupling link secured to an adjacent car.

4. In a coupling device for a toy car that includes a unitary moldedplastic frame, an axle unit fixed to the underside of said frame andhaving wheel members rotatably mounted on the outermost ends thereof, anupstanding projection formed on said axle unit intermediate the endsthereof and projecting into the interior of said car, and a couplinglink pivotally secured to the uppermost end of said projection andextending outwardly beyond the confines of said car.

5. In a coupling device for a toy car as set forth in claim 4, the endof said frame adjacent said coupling link being formed with a slot thatreceives said coupling link therein, the ends of said slot defining thelimits for pivotal movement of said coupling link on said projection.

6. In a toy train, a car including a frame, at least one axle unitmounted on the underside of said frame and normally fixed from movementwith respect thereto, wheels mounted for rotation on the outer ends ofsaid axle unit, and a coupling link operatively engaging said axle unitsubstantially intermediate the ends thereof for pivotal movement withrespect thereto, said coupling link extending beyond the frame of saidcar and adapted to engage a corresponding coupling link mounted on anadjacent car.

7. In a toy train, a car including a frame, at least one axle unitmounted on the underside of said frame and normally fixed from movementwith respect thereto, said axle unit including an elongated centralportion, on the outer ends of which wheels are rotatably mounted, and acoupling link operatively and pivotally engaging said central portionsubstantially intermediate the ends thereof and independent of saidframe, said coupling link ex? tending beyond the frame of said car andbeing adapted to engage a corresponding coupling link mounted on anadjacent car.

8. In a toy train, a car including a frame having spaced brackets fixedto the underside thereof, at least one axle =unit positioned on theunderside of said frame, said axle unit including an elongated centralportion, the ends of which extend through said spaced brackets tonormally fix said axle unit from movement with respect to said frame,wheels rotatably mounted on the outer ends of said elongated centralportion, and "a coupling link, the inner end of which operativelyengages said elongated central portion substantially intermediate theends thereof independent of said frame and being pivotally movable withrespect thereto, the outer end of said coupling link extending beyondthe frame of said car and being adapted to engage the outer end of acorresponding coupling link mounted on an adjacent car.

9. In a coupling device for a toy car that comprises a unitary moldedplastic frame having spaced brackets integral'ly formed thereon, an axleunit engaging said brackets and normally fixed from movement withrespect to said frame, wheels rotatably mounted on the outer ends ofsaid fixed axle unit, and coupling means pivotally engaging said fixedaxle unit and extending substantially beyond said car frame forengagement with coupling means of an adjacent car.

10. In a coupling device for a toy car that includes spaced bracketsformed on the underside thereof, an axle unit engaging said brackets infixed relation and rotatably supporting wheels on the outermost endsthereof, and coupling means pivotally engaging said axle unit andextending substantially beyond said car for engagement with couplingmeans of an adjacent car.

11. In a toy train, a car having an elongated axle secured to theunderside thereof and normally fixed with respect thereto, a couplinglink operatively connected to said axle interiorly of said car andpivotally mounted with respect to said axle substantially intermediatethe ends thereof, said coupling link extending exteriorly of said carand coupled to the coupling link of an adjacent car.

12. In a toy train, a car having spaced support means fixed to theunderside thereof, an axle unit secured to said support means beneaththe body of said car and fixed against rotation, wheels rotatablysecured to the outer ends of said axle unit, and coupling meansoperatively connected to said fixed axle unit substantially intermediatethe ends thereof and pivotally mounted with respect thereto, saidcoupling means being adapted to be coupled to a coupling means pivotallymounted on an adjacent car.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,029,545 Hotchkiss June 11, 1912 1,789,042. Ives et a1. Jan. 13, 19312,778,159 Irwin Ian. 22, 1957

